Cuticle pencil



Sept. 12, 1939.` y RA GREGORY 2,172,656

, cuTlczLE-Pmwn.A .Filed Jan. 17, 1938 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT orifice 2 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to toilet articles and has especial reference to a fountain pencil for the purpose of treating cuticle formed upon the base of the nails so that this cuticle may be readily removed from the finger nails by use of any suitable manicure instrument.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a fountain pencil of the character set forth that includes a barrel and a spring pressed nib having valve members cooperating therewith to control the flow of uid from the barrel to the pencil and to break the vacuum in the pencil barrel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fountain pencil of this character which will automatically deliver a, measured portion of liquid, such as oil, to the cuticle of the fingers when the barrel is pressed downward by the user, the iiow of iiuid to and from the nib being regulated by the pressure upon the barrel thereof.

` A further object of the invention is to provide a fountain pencil of the character set forth that may be utilized by manicurists for the softening of the cuticle or may be used by any individual for this purpose and that may be readily carried in the purse or in the pocket without soiling the same.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pencil of this character which includes simple valve mechanism capable of delivering a measured amount of fluid to the nib of the pencil upon slight pressure upon the barrel thereof when the nib of the pencil is resting upon the nger nail.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a fountain pencil of this character that includes a main Valve having ports therein communicating with the barrel and with a central bore formed in the nib so that when said valve is unseated a measured amount of fluid is fed to the pencil nib and when seated positively closes these bores and seals the fluid within the barrel A still further object of the invention is to provide a pencil of this character which is positive in .its action, is simple in construction, is light in weight and that may be easily and quickly lled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fountain pencil of this character that includes a ready and suiiicient quantity of fluid fo-r a considerable period.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved pencil with portions thereof broken away to disclose the valve mechanism thereof;

(Cl. 13B-74.5)

Figure 2 is a detail view of the pencil and feed valve and showing the ports arranged therein;

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 2, showing the arrangement of the ports in said valve;

Figure 4 is a greatly enlarged sectional view 5 of the entire pencil and showing the barrel and the positioning of the feed valve and the Vacuum release valve, the valves being shown in operative positions; and

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the 10 line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Many persons are bothered with a cuticle which grows about the nails adjacent to the iiesh thereof, and spoils the appearance of the nails and fingers. The usual practice of removing this 15 cuticle is to use an implement such as an orange Wood stick to raise the cuticle and then out the same away with cuticle scissors or a like implement.

This is not only a tedious operation but is 20 sometimes painful, but in the use of my device the cuticle is softened and may be either readily removed or forced back against the flesh and allowed to wear away.

In detail my improved pencil consists of a 25 suitable barrel 6 having a tapered end section 'I and a capped outer end 8. A cap 9 is also provided to cover the pencil tip when not in use.

Valve members IIJ and Il are positioned within the barrel'and operate thru bores formed thru 30 the valve guides I4 and I5, the main valve lil having a stem I6 and a nib Il extending therefrom and thru the bore I2 and the nib is provided with a longitudinal port I8 communicating with radial bypass ports I9 formed in the valve, 35 as clearly shown in Figure 2, said valve I@ being capable of seating in the seat 2i! formed in the inner face of the section I4.

This feed Valve I0 is held normally seated by means of a coil spring 2I surrounding the stem 40 I6 and bearing against the back of said valve.

'Ihe vacuum release valve Il is capable of being normally seated in the seat 22 and is held seated by means of the coil spring 23 arranged in the cap 8 of the pencil and said valve is pro- 4 vided with a short stem 24 extending thru the loose bore I 3 thru which bore fluid is supplied to the barrel when needed upon removal of the Valve II from the barrel.

The coil spring 2l normally closes the feed 50 valve I0 and the spring 23 normally closes the valve II, however, when the pencil nib il is applied to the finger and slight pressure is applied to the barrel 6 the feed Valve Il) is opened and o-il iiows to and thru the ports I9 and to the port 55 I8 and thence to the tip of the nib whereat it is applied to the cuticle.

It will be noted that in Figure 1, when both Valves are normally seated a slight space exists between the feed Valve stem I6 and the vacuum valve stern 24 so that when pressure is applied to the pencil nib the main valve unseats first and then the vacuum valve stem 24 is encountered and the vacuum valve Il is unseated. Any vacuum which may exist in the barrel is broken and the oil may flow freely thru the ports I8 and i9 to the nib tip, both valves being again seated by their respective springs when pressure is released between the barrel and nib.

In this manner a positive flow of oil is produced to the nails and a positive discontinuance of this flow is accomplished when the barrel is released due to the tight seating of valve lll and the sealing of the ports I9 in the valve seat 20.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

1. A cuticle pencil including a barrel; a spring seated vacuum valve in the upper end of said barrel and having a stem projecting thereinto; a spring seated feed valve in the lower end of said barrel and having a hollow nib protruding therefrom and communicating with a bypass in said feed valve; and a stem on said feed valve in spaced operative relation to the stem of said vacuum valve, whereby the opening of the vacuum valve is subsequent to the opening of the feed Valve.

2l. A cuticle pencil including a barrel having a feed valve guide and a vacuum valve guide in its opposite ends respectively, with valve seats therein; a valve stem having a hollow nib projecting from said barrel; a feed valve on said stem seated in said feed valve guide and having a bypass into said nib; a spring in said barrel expanding between said vacuum valve guide and said feed valve; and a spring seated vacuum valve having a stem engageable with said feed valve stem.

RAY K. GREGORY. 

